Recommended Read?

Does being an RR equate to a "Do Not Read?"

They posted my last submission as a recommended read. The reviewer said it wasn't her fetish, but it got her going, and she thought others would like it. I (of course) thought that was great, and was happy it might get extra views. But no, poorest viewed story ever.

It's in the watersports category, but another story I did in that category at least got views and positive comments, again by people who weren't into it, but liked the story. I considered a different, likely more popular category, but I want to use the most restrictive category so no one feels blindsided. "Oh look, a romance. Ew, pissing..."

it's as if this one has been blacklisted.

I am not new to publishing erotica, and am submitting some greatest hits. Are there some mores here I need to be aware of?

https://www.lushstories.com/stories/watersports/omoromance

RRs are nothing more than a personal recommendation from the moderator and gets the story listed on the Recommended Reads page, in additiom to whichever category and tags you used. It carries no more weight otherwise.

(Besides the prestige! They're not all that common)

Some categories are phenomenally popular and others, as you've found, aren't. The more niche fetishes, as well as (sadly) fantasy/sci-fi, tend to not have as many people camping there to see what's new.

But you should still publish in the most appropriate category for the story. Just because a story category doesn't have a massive following and your expected interaction counts are lower then you'd like, doesn't mean you won't get reads as you build your portfolio.

Speaking from experience, many people who follow you will read most of what you write, irrespective of genre, if you demonstrate you're good at the craft in genres they do like.

Quote by WannabeWordsmith

RRs are nothing more than a personal recommendation from the moderator and gets the story listed on the Recommended Reads page, in additiom to whichever category and tags you used. It carries no more weight otherwise.

I'm still pretty new, and have no friends here, well, one. Sort of.

I see I'm number 3 on the RR page. Or at least that's what I see. Just odd that there haven't been more views.

Quote by yourfantasylover

I'm still pretty new, and have no friends here, well, one. Sort of.

Then I'd start there. Read a load of stories here. Vote and comment on them. Put a few things on your profile wall. Start discussions in the forum. Pimp your stories in the Self-Promotion forum. Share your writing expertise; anything.

The more you start to contribute to more stuff on the site, the more people get to know you and check out your work. The more people you can start following you, the more exposure you get each time you publish.

Quote by yourfantasylover

Does being an RR equate to a "Do Not Read?"

Scroll past your story on the RR page to look at others’ views and 🔥 and you’ll see this is def not the case, lol. Def check out WW’s advice. 🤗

And congrats on the RR!!

Congrats on the RR!

I'd suggest you don't go crazy about the numbers. A lot of people read and go, some take a moment to comment and others just like them.

Focusing too much on the numbers may take out from the actual writing, which is, imho, what matters the most. Case in point, someone thought your story was good enough to recommend it and you seem to be complaining instead of celebrating it.

This is a community of writers and readers, so network and make the most of it

An interesting post, which has received some excellent advice. 😊

If it makes you feel better, I have published 142 stories here, and although they have all been generally well received, I have never had a RR from a moderator. The only one I have ever been awarded came from being in the top ten in a LushStories competition.

So I would suggest, give it time, build your friends, followers and above all, enjoy your RR.

Those likes, views and comments will come, I promise.